Combined brake and clutch unit, combined brake and clutch unit with a yaw brake and method for operation thereof

Abstract

A combined brake and clutch unit is provided for a drivetrain of a vehicle, such as a road vehicle, and a method is provided for operating the same. A brake ring is provided at a housing of a clutch which is enclosed by a brake actuator. The housing of the clutch is connected to a wheel axis and a clutch surface is connected to an axis of a vehicle. Furthermore, a multiplate clutch is provided for use as an interaxle differential.

1 . A combined brake and clutch unit for a drivetrain of a vehicle having an axis and a wheel axis, comprising:
 a brake actuator;   a clutch having a surface connected to the axis;   a housing of the clutch connected to the wheel axis and the surface; and   a brake ring at the housing of the clutch and enclosed by the brake actuator   
     
     
         2 . The combined brake and clutch unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an incomplete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         3 . The combined brake and clutch unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a complete planetary gearset having a ring gear and the surface is formed as a clutch ring at the ring gear of the complete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         4 . The combined brake and clutch unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a complete planetary gearset having a ring gear and the brake ring of a yaw brake at the ring gear of the complete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         5 . The combined brake and clutch unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic control unit connected to a clutch actuator of the clutch. 
     
     
         6 . The combined brake and clutch unit according to  claim 4 , further comprising an electronic control unit connected to the brake actuator of the yaw brake. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating an arrangement of a combined brake and clutch unit of a vehicle comprising two wheels, comprising the steps of:
 measuring a torque at each of the two wheels;   calculating degrees of engagement of a clutch of the combined brake and clutch unit with an electronic control unit such that the torque at the two wheels is essentially equal;   applying a clutch actuator of the combined brake and clutch units according to the degrees of engagement.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 deriving a motion of the vehicle from sensor data;   calculating an engagement of a yaw brake;   actuating a brake actuator of the yaw brake according to the degrees of engagement.   
     
     
         9 . A vehicle, comprising
 an axis;   a wheel axis;   A drivetrain; and   A combined brake and clutch unit for the drivetrain, comprising:
 a brake actuator; 
 a clutch having a surface connected to the axis; 
 a housing of the clutch connected to the wheel axis and the surface; and 
 a brake ring at the housing of a clutch and enclosed by the brake actuator. 
   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising an incomplete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a complete planetary gearset having a ring gear and the surface is formed as a clutch ring at the ring gear of the complete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a complete planetary gearset having a ring gear and the brake ring of a yaw brake at the ring gear of the complete planetary gearset. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , further comprising an electronic control unit connected to a clutch actuator of the clutch. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle according to  claim 12 , further comprising an electronic control unit connected to the brake actuator of the yaw brake. 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:
 a program for operating an arrangement of a combined brake and clutch unit of a vehicle comprising two wheels, the program configured to:   measure a torque at each of the two wheels;   calculate degrees of engagement of a clutch of the combined brake and clutch unit with an electronic control unit such that the torque at the two wheels is essentially equal;   apply a clutch actuator of the combined brake and clutch units according to the degrees of engagement.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to  claim 15 , the program further configured to:
 derive a motion of the vehicle from sensor data;   calculate an engagement of a yaw brake;   actuate a brake actuator of the yaw brake according to the degrees of engagement.